Spain

Spain’s Constitutional Court upholds same-sex marriage law

Spain’s highest court on Tuesday upheld the legality of the country’s same-sex marriage law, rejecting an appeal contending that marriage in the Spanish constitution means only the union of a man and woman.

The county’s Constitutional Court voted 8-3 to dismiss the appeal of the conservative Popular Party, which was filed shortly after Spain became the world’s third country to legalize marriage for same-sex couples.

Spain’s Parliament passed the marriage equality bill in June 2005 when it was Socialist-controlled — the Popular Party, who opposed the measure, has since come to power. The measure also included the right of adoption by same-sex couples.

The law angered the predominant Roman Catholic Church, but opinion polls showed that most Spaniards supported it.

More than 22,000 gay marriages have taken place in Spain since the law was enacted seven years ago.

Spain was the third country to legalize same-sex marriage, after the Netherlands and Belgium, and 17 days ahead of Canada.